The government was urged on Wednesday for allocation of adequate funds for construction of roads in Balochistan province as well as western route of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. This was requested during a meeting of the Functional Committee on Problems of Less Development Areas on Wednesday.
The meeting was chaired by Senator Usman Khana Kakar who stated that work on western route of CPEC on - Park Zhob - Zhob-Quetta and Quetta-Sohrab Road - has not been started and there is no hope that the work will be started during the tenure of the present government. The reason, he stated, was that against the requirement of Rs 55 billion for purchase of land on western route, the government allocated Rs 15 billion only. The committee chairman and some other members accused the government of not undertaking the work on western route of CPEC in line with the All Parties Conference decision.
Senate Azam Khan Musakhel stated that there is a need to accelerate work on highways in Balochstan for CPEC, while Senator Samina Saeed pointed out the wreckage of a part of the bridge of National Highways Authority at expressway near Haripur.
The members of the committee raised the issues of construction of roads in Chitral division while Senator Gianchand raised the issue of inclusion of Thar coal project in the CPEC. Senior officials of NHA stated that financing of these projects is to come from China and approval of framework agreement is awaited. They added that as soon as framework agreement is approved, funds would be provided by China.
The meeting was informed that around 12,000 people would be inducted in Motorway police in order to man the traffic after some members of the committee pointed towards increasing traffic accidents in Balochistan. The approval for recruitment of 12,000 officials has been obtained and soon they would be inducted in the motorway police.
The committee was briefed in detail on various projects of the NHA in Balochistan province to connect the province with the CPEC. The committee decided to recommend to the government for allocation of funds.
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